Glass workshop for women at IIT Madras

The exclusive event provided a technical platform for women to familiarize, enhance and gain further knowledge in the energy efficiency and quality aspects of glass and glazing in buildings and thereby support them for a sustainable and high-level career in the glass and glazing industry. 

Professor S Arul Jayachandran, structural engineering laboratory, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras, said, “This is the 10th skill development programme organised by IIT Madras, GSI and IFC. It has been a successful journey from August 2017. 

We have trained more than 280 quality team personnel from around 120 organizations in the glass industry, processors, fabricators, façade consultants, architects, builders and developers.” 

He added that the workshops include theory sessions by industry experts from Saint Gobain, Asahi India, Gujarat Guardian, Schueco, Deceuninck, Eastman, Dow Chemicals and academic experts from IIT Madras and GSI. There are exclusive demonstration sessions and practical training on architectural glass, glazing systems and associated materials by the industry, GSI and IIT Madras as well. 

R Subramanian, Chairman, GSI and Managing Director, Saint-Gobain India, said, “GSI was overwhelmed with the response from the women in glass and glazing industry for the training programme. It should be highlighted that there is a huge need for such skill development initiatives which can go a long way to build capacity in India for world class design and manufacture of glass and glazing buildings. This initiative should be strengthened and many more such programs should be organized.” 

Professor K Ramamurthy, head of Civil Engineering Department, IIT Madras, said, “The programme has been put together carefully to have a mix of both theory and practical exposure. The participants should absorb not only the learning content but also the atmosphere of IIT Madras.”